Los Angeles County high school seniors might be walking across the graduation stage while unknowingly leaving hundreds of dollars, and in some cases up to $1,500, sitting in state scholarship accounts. A big chunk of local students qualify without filling out applications, writing a single essay or hitting a GPA target. The money can be spent on tuition, books, supplies, computer equipment and certain housing costs at eligible colleges or vocational programs.
According to the Los Angeles Times, roughly 68% of public high school students in L.A. County meet CalKIDS eligibility, and more than $465 million in scholarship funds are available countywide. Eligible high school students typically receive a $500 award, with an extra one-time $500 boost for foster and homeless youth, so some students can access as much as $1,500. The program also creates smaller scholarship accounts for newborns that can be tapped when those kids hit college age.
Who qualifies and how to check
CalKIDS automatically enrolls eligible public school students using data that districts submit to the state. Eligibility is generally based on the Local Control Funding Formula and includes students identified as low income or English learners. The California Department of Education’s Fall Census Day, the first Wednesday in October each year, is the snapshot used to certify enrollments, and families can confirm status with the program’s eligibility tool. To run the check, you will need a student’s 10-digit Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), which usually appears on transcripts or in a school portal.
How to claim and get the cash
The State Treasurer’s office says students can claim a CalKIDS scholarship online with three pieces of information: the county where they attended school during the relevant years, the student’s date of birth and the SSID. Students 17 or older can request a distribution once they are enrolled at an accredited institution that accepts federal student aid, and the funds go straight to the school for qualifying expenses rather than landing in a personal bank account. The Treasurer’s CalKIDS financial aid guidance also notes that there is no GPA or minimum unit requirement, and the program can cover noncredit career training programs in many cases.
Quick steps for seniors and counselors
If you are a senior, start by entering your SSID into the CalKIDS eligibility tool and double-check the county where you were enrolled during 2021-24. School counselors can help track down SSIDs or run checks at the district level. Once an account is claimed and a distribution is sent to a campus, a college financial aid office can apply it to tuition or process it as a refund, depending on campus policy. CalKIDS also offers step-by-step help and a phone line for families who need assistance claiming accounts.
State outreach and why it matters
The state has been pushing outreach so dormant accounts turn into actual support for students, linking CalKIDS to community college systems and data tools to flag eligible students. A recent coordinated effort identified about 40,000 community college students with roughly $20 million available, according to statewide outreach materials from the treasurer and governor’s offices. Officials say the goal is to turn set-aside scholarship dollars into immediate help for students who are juggling tuition, books and living costs while enrolled.
